Threshold seal and locking device



' Jail. 6, 1948.

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c. R. HUNTER THRESHOLD SEAL AND LOCKING DEVICE Filed Feb. 15, 1946 3Sheets-Sheet l Inventor C. R. HUNTER I THRESHOLD SE AL AND LOCKINGDEVICE Jan. 6, 1948.

Filed Feb. 15, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet .2

I hventar (bah/e; f. Hmfez:

Jan. 6, 1948. 4 'c. R. HUNTER THRESHOLD SEAL AND LOCKING DEVICE FiledFeb. 13, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 V Inventor Cbarfes 4Q. Huvfer:

Patented Jan. 6, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i THRESHOLD SEAL ANDLOCKING DEVICE Charles R. Hunter, Camden, N. J

Application February 13, 1946, Serial No. 647,341

This invention comprises a novel and useful carpet strip, seal andlocking device and more specifically resides in a threshold for doors"and the like, of novel construction.

The primary object of my invention resides in providing a novel andextremelyeflicient air sealing means for doors and the like, positionedbetween a door and its frame,and which maybe embodied in a threshold. I

A second object of my invention is the provision of a novel-retainingmeans for preventing opening of the door and capable of being embodiedin a threshold. i

A third object of my invention is the provision of a novel, eificientand convenient foot actuated mechanism for operating a door sealing andretaining means.- V V A fourth object of the invention is thedevelopment of a novel, compact, eflicient, foot operated locking means,for securing a sealing means'and a door retaining means in operativeposition.

A fifth object of the invention is the construction of a device inaccordance with the foregoing o-bjects,which shall be sufficiently fiatand compact as to be embodied in the conventional size of threshold. v v

A sixth object of the invention is the development of a device inaccordance with the aforesaid objects which is adapted to fit any dooror type of doorway and floor. i

A seventh object of the invention is the provision ofan apparatus, inaccordance with the aforementioned objects which shall be composed offew'members, neat and unobtrusive in appearance, sturdy and reliable .inoperation and withal shall be economical and inexpensive to manufacture-V I V An eighth object of the inventionis the construction of a devicein accordance with the foregoing objects, which shall have .its'operating mechanism fully enclosed and protected from the detrimentaleffects, of weather, dirt and tamp s. 5. Y

These and numerous other important objects of theinvention, which willlater become apparent as the following description proceeds are achievedby my invention one 'embodiment of whiohhas been illustrated, "by way ofexample only, in the attached drawingswherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view'ofthe base plate, certain parts being shown intheir assembled position;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of one ofthe end supports for the cover;p Y i Figure 3 isa perspective viewfof the center cover support?" I i lV V Figure-4 is a perspective view; of an element;

Figure 5 is apers peq' ivevview ofthe oscillating bar; V r 1respectively, of an operating bar;

Claims. ((31. 20-.64)

2 Figures 8 and 9 are top plan and side elevations respectively, ofanother operating bar;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of one of the cam wedges;

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic sketch of a part of the cam; V a, Figure 12is avertical section "transversethe sealing bar; I I

Figure 13 is a'transverse section on the line Sal-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 14 is an exploded'perspective'view of the locking mechanism; and;v

-Figure 15 is a fragmentary top plan showing the locking bolt inlockedposition. i I,

In the accompanying drawings the character A designates generally-thecover housing of my'in vention, B indicates the seal actuatingmeans, (J-identifies the foot operated'mechanism and D defines thelockin device.

' Specific reference is made first to Figure 1 wherein a base plate ltconstructedof any advantageous material, including metal; and of anysuitable shape and size, but in the embodiment illustrated is of thedimensions conventionalwith a'door threshold, is secured to the floor orany satisfactory portion ofa, door frame as by screws or equivalentanchoring devices extending through the bores 12. The cover B of anycontour adapted to the situation in which'it is employed and, in thisinstance, conforming to the conventional shape and proportions of athreshold, is secured by means of a peripheral flange l4, gasket I6, andscrews 18 to the base-plate. I

Mounted centrally of the base plate is a vertical pivot 20, extendingthrough a central aperture 22 of an actuating bar 24, see Figure 5,oscillatable thereon in a manner to be set forth hereinafter. Adjacentone end of the base plate are sets of vertical pins 26 constitutingguide means for the foot operated mechanism C, the latter comprising apair of parallel bars 28, 3'8 slidable transversely of said base betweensaid guide pins, each bar carrying a pair of appropriately spaced pins32 for retaining the ends of a transversely swinging lever 34, seeFigure 4, journaled upon the verti cal axle 3B. The adjacent end of thebar 24 is received between the pins 32 and beneath the end of lever34 onthe bar 28in a manner tobe subsequently made clear, whereby transversemove ment of one bar 28, 30 will cause an oscillation of bar 24 aboutits central fulcrum 20 and also cause retrograde movement, bymeans oflink 34, of the other lever 30, 28, v a r As shown more clearly uponFigure 5, the oscillating;bar 24 is formed of a fiatstrip of materialwith a central transversely extending portionit carryingthe apertureZZ;and thence extendingin longitudinally disposed arms- 40. Adjacent oneextremity, an arm has'a longitudinal offset extension 42, elevated abovethe base ID a suflicient distance to snugly overlie the bar 28 betweenthe two pins 32. At appropriate distances from the aperture 22, each armis formed with transverse eXtensions 44 each having a central verticalfulcrum pin '46 and a plurality of spaced, vertical, guide pins 48.

Referring now to Figures 13 and 14, an edge portion of a door islongitudinally recessed to receive the channel member 52 while thecorresponding portion of the cover A is similarly recessed to provide amating channel .54. .A bar :55 loosely disposed in the full length ofsaid slot 54 is adapted to be elevated by "the oscillating bar intoseating, sealing and locking engagement in channel 52 as shown by thedotted line portion of Figure 13. It will be clear that the depth ofchannel "52 is less than that of channel 54 and the height of bar 56,whereby the elevated bar is seated securely in both channels throughoutits length.

A pair of identical cam wedges 58, shown in perspective inFigure 10, aremounted inrev-ersed positions upon the enlarged portions 44, beingloosely retained by pins 48 and by the vertical axle 4'6, engageable inan aperture in the base i of the .cam. The camconsists of a base or idleportion "62, an inclined operating portion 64, a locking portion 66 anda rear inclined shoulder portion 6'8. In .thetransverse planesofthecams, the cover -A has .the channel member .54 transversely slottedJfrombeneath to permit transverse travel of the wedges thereacross, theslotted parts of the channel being turned'back to form lateral guidesurfaces") and adependingguide surface l2 .ateach side of eachcarnwedge. The sealing bar is bevelled on each lower edge at 14, see Figure12, to conform-to the inclined operating surfaces .64 of the .reverselypositioned cams 58.

In this fully retracted position, wedges 58 abut the inner side surfaceof the cover A with their shoulders .68, the base portions 62 beingdisposed in the-transverse channel slots and beneath the bar 156ininoperative position. At this time, the barl28 is fully extended fromthe cover, as shown inFiguresM and 1, whi1ebar'3f! is fully retracted.Asbarlfi isnow pushedin, as by actuation from the operators foot, thepins 32 engaging the terminal '42 oscillatebar24 about its pivot 20 in acounter-clockwise direction causing the two Wedges .58 .toride throughthe transverse slots in the cover ,plate. Theoperating surfaces 64 nowengage shoulders'l4.on-opposite sides and evenly and uniformly elevate.the sealing bar from recess 54 .into sealing engagement with. recess52. The-cam lockingsurfaces .516 are now disposed fully beneaththe-bar'56, and-the latter is fully seatedin the door channeliZ andthethreshold channel :54 as clearlyshown by-the dotted line constructionin Figure 13. It will be understood that .the pins 46 travel in i anarcuate path whose center is the fulcrum pin 20, while the wedges arerestrained to rectilinear transverse reciprocation by the .guide slotsurfaces l0, [2. Suitable lost motion is therefore providedbetween thepins 46 and the cam bores Bil by forming the latter as elongated slotspositioned to accommodate the arc of thepin travel,.asshown-diagrammatically in Figure 11, wherein '16 indicates the pathofmovement ofpin 46.

It will be apparent that when fully elevated, the bar .56 effects the.dual .functions of completely sealing thespace between the door and itsframe and also fastens thedoorinclosed position. .If desired,thelockingmeansD may .be now-activated, in a .:manner .to be .laterdescribed, as .by

4 pressure from the toe of the operator, to lock the bar 28 from returnmovement, whereby pressure upon the protruded bar 30 is ineffective tooscillate the bar 24 and retract the wedges.

Attention is now directed :more articularly to Figures 6-9, illustratingthe construction of the operating bars. Bars 28, 30 comprise narrow flatstrips having an upturned end flange portion #8 for actuation by thefoot of the operator and are slidably disposed through front and rearslots of the cover :plate A. This flange has plane surfaces in bar 30,but in bar 28 is provided with a transverse groove Elllupon its innersurface.

Spaced from the flange 18, bar 28 is provided with an upwardly disposed,rearwardly slanting flange 82, whichis adapted toabut the outer,inclined, surface Lof the cover A in the extreme .inward position ofthe'bar, thus acting as a stop means for the bar and as asealing meansfor the bar slotlinthe .cover. A flange 84 is similarlydispcseduponlbar'iifl but is continued down the sides of the 'bar ltoform .ribs. Adjacent .the rear .toe plate 132 .o'feadh bar, ananalogousflange 86 .is provided, cooperating withttherear surf aceof the covertoiorma sea-ling .meansand a stop limiting the.extremeoutwardmovement ofboth bars. Ad.- ditionalidentical, inclined flanges 88are providedintermediate each bar to form supplemental stops and sealingmeans-cooperating with the interior surfaces of the cover. LThus,,in theforward-position of 'bar Z8,,forwar'dffiange.88 abuts the cover on itsfront inner wall while flange .85 .is-engaged with .the rear outer wall.When the barisinthe rear position, the flange .82 .abuts the front outerwall and .rear flange .88 engages the inner rear wall.TBytl'iismeansboth the slots of the cover are scaledateachposition ofthe bar28. The operation.ofharjiillissimilar to the foregoing. Bar 23 isprovided withanintermediate boss having a vertical-surface S0,.suitablyspaced frompin 32 to constitute therewith an actuating means for the end42 .of .Joarl4. .Upon the bossis disposed a horizontal surface '92, in.the same-plane with the upper surface .o'fv member 42, the surface 92and thetop of member 42 supporting,:and.the spaced pins 32 guiding theend 42 of the lever 24. The bar 30 is provided .witha centrally disposedlug 94 having .a horizontalsurface 96 in the same horizontal plane withsurface 92, which receives theother end of lever 34 between the two pins.32. As shown .in perspective in Figure 4, lever 34 is provided with acentrally depressed portion 98 and. horizontal arms .lllU which areflatly disposed upon the surfaces.92,.96.between pins 32. As will beevident,.the pins '32-and the shoulder are suitablygpos'itioned to.allow for the angular. oscillation-o'f .the members 42 and I00. As willbe further evident, the ends I00 of the member34 have :a greatermovement than-that of member 24and the spacing provided between the pins32 is therefore greaterthan that between a pin and the shoulder .90.

As .s'hown in plan in Figure .1 and'in perspective inFigures-2and'3, thevcover plate A is provided with end supports and a center support. Eachend ,supporttcomprises a U-shaped member I02 havings'idearms I06 snuglyembracing the channel '54 and with topsurf'aces 108 supporting the topsurface of the cover. The center support N14 has a pair of parallel,oppositely ,and longitudinally disposed. side members I In whichsnuglyembracerthe channelmember 54 and whosetop surfaces H2 support the centerof the cover. A transverse web I I4 connects the members-l-llland has atop surface I ifiaunderlying andsupportingaisaoaa the under surface ofchannel 54 while a lower surface II8 overlies the oscillatingbar 24 andis apertured to receive the pin 20. Additional pins and apertures I20are provided to accurately position the supporting means I02 and I04upon the base I0. The inward lower edges of member I I are recessed atI22 to accommodate the angular movements of bar 24 thereunder. It willnow be seen that the members I02 not only reinforce the upper surface ofthe cover member from collapse, as when a load is placed thereon, butalso embrace and reinforce against distortion the-lower and side wallsof the channel member 54 and in the case of member I04 also serve toretain member 24 upon its pivot 20.

Attention is now specifically directed to Figures 14 and 15 illustratingthe construction of the locking means. The rim or flange I4 of the coverA is enlarged upon both sides of bar 28 to form a bolt housing I24 and abolt keeper housing I26. Each housing has a hollow axial, aligned,passageway which is open at the top and is of cruciform cross section.This passageway extends completely through housing I24, terminatesadjacent the wall I28 of housing I26, and defines four parallel,longitudinal guiding grooves, slidably receiving the four correspondinglongitudinal ribs I30 of the lock bolt I32. An upper surface I34 of thetop rib is flush with the upper surface of housings I24, I26, and isprovided with upstanding lugs I38 comprising finger or toe actuatingmeans for sliding the bolt in the passageway. At its outward end,housing I24 is cut away vertically, and horizontally in the same planeas the lower surface of the lateral guide grooves, whereby the lock boltmay be placed upon the cut away portion with its lower rib' I30 in thelower guide groove and its lateral ribs resting upon the shoulders I38forming continuations of the lateral guide grooves. may now be slidaxially into the housing which is of such length as to exactly receivethe lock bolt, and the lock bolt retainer I40 may now be secured inposition as shown in the dotted line phantom construction I40. Thisretainer consists of a plug, T-shaped in cross section, the lower ribI42 filling the lower groove I44 of the housing I24 and the upper andside surfacesfill ing up the cut away portion to the same width andheight as the rest of housing I24. A screw I46 extending through a boreI48 in member I40 and into a screw threaded aperture I50 in the flangeI4 secures the retainer in position.

The operation of thelock means will now be apparent. With'the partsassembled, the bolt I32 is recessed into housing I24 and the spacebetween housings I24 and I26 is therefore entirely unobstructed. Bar '28and, of course, bar 30 may therefore be operated at will, elevating andlowering the sealing bar 56. When, however, the bar 28 has beenpressed'fully'inward, and its flange 82 is abutting the cover A, thebolt I32 may be slid through the passageway so that it extends acrossthe bar '28, with its two ends engaged in the corresponding guidegrooves-in housings I24 and I 26, as shown in Figure 15, and will beapparent from Figure 14. In this position, the lower rib I30 of the boltis disposed between the flange 82 and the end plate. 18 of bar 28,looking the bar 28 from outward movement and hence preventing theassociated mechanism from releasing the scaling bar 56 from its elevatedposition.

From the foregoing, it will be evident that the sealing means 56 may beactuated either from The lock bolt be disposed within the door but itwill be under-.

stood that in certain uses its location upon the outside will beconsidered preferable.

It will be evident that in the foregoing embodiment, I rely upon gravityto cause retraction of the sealing bar when the actuating wedges areretracted, but it is within the purview of my invention to provideauxiliary withdrawing means such as suitable spring means or a positiveconnection between the actuating means and the sealing means to compelwithdrawal of the latter when the bar 30 is operated.

While obviously various dimensions and proportions of parts may bresorted to in practicing the invention, I find that a very satisfactorycompact and inexpensively manufactured product may be employed byforming the base, cover, flanges, channel members, actuating bar, footoperated bars and lever 34 from sheet metal, this dimension of materialhaving satisfactory strength and being readily workable in my device.

Moreover, while I have shown the lock housings as being integral withthe rim I4, it will be under-- stood that in the interests ofinexpensiveness and the advantages of mass production, I may form themas separate members, assembled later as by welding and the like.

t will thus be seen that m invention provides a compact, sturdy andhighly efiicacious device, operable either as an air sealing means, alocking means or both, and which is easily installed, dif, ficult totamper with and has all its parts inclosed and protected from dirt,weather or moisture.

In assembling my device, the base plate It is first secured to the doorframe, as to the floor. Then the oscillating bar and the bars 28, 30 areplaced in position. The wedges, lever 34 and supports -Hi2, I04 are nowinstalled. The cover is next installed and the sealing bar 56 placed inthe threshold channel 54. The door channel 52 is now mounted. The lockbolt M2 is next inserted in the housing I24 and the retainer plug M0secured by screw I48.

Anyend space between the ends of the cover and base plate and the frameis now filled by driving in shims of appropriate cross section.

I claim as my invention:

1. A sealing device for a frame having an opening and a movable closuretherefor, com-..

prising registering channels in said frame and closure, a sealingelement received in one of said channels and elevatable into sealingengagement with both said channels, oscillatory actuating. meansengaging the underside of the element for,

element, connecting means operatively attachingsaid bar to saidoperating means and lifting means connected to said bar and said sealingelement for actuating the latter upon oscillation of said bar.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said lifting means comprises camson said bar, said cams engaging said sealing element at spaced points touniformly elevate the same.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said camsare pivotally mounted onsaid bar and guide means for causing transverse rectilinearreciprocation of said ,cams relative to said sealing element.

'5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said operating means includes aslide having actuating extremities extending beyond each side of saidchannel receiving said sealing element, said actuating means including apivoted bar, a 21301- tion .of said .bar being .operatively connected tosaid slide.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said slide is coplanar with saidbar, portion of said bar being offset and resting uponsaid slide.

7. The combination .of claim 1 wherein said operating means includes. .amechanism having parallel operating slides, opposite extremities of saidslides extending from opposite sides of said frame and a centrallypivoted lever terminally connected to each of said slides for si..uitane0.us reciprocation in opposite directions, said actuating meansbeing operatively connected to one of said slides.

8. Atl-ireshold comprising a housing receivable in a door frame, asealing strip receivable in said housing and slidably extensibletherefrom into sealing engagement with a door, oscillatory actuatingmeans in said housing engaging the underside of the sealing strip forelevating the same, operating means housed within and extendingexternally of said housing and movable transversely of said sealingstrip for controlling said actuating means.

9. The combination of claim ,8 wherein said housing includes a hollowbody, a channel member in the top surface of said body slidablyreceiving said sealing strip, a, plurality of supports in said body,each of said supports having a recess for receiving said channel member,one of said supports having a notch upon its lower surface, saidactuating means including an oscillating bar extending through saidnotch.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said,

actuating means includes a bar pivotally mounted for oscillation beneathsaid channel member, actuators connected to said bar and sealing strip,and extending into said channel member, guides for restraining saidactuators to straight line motion transverse said channel member, saidguides comprising depending portions of said. channel members.

11. The combination of claim 10 wherein said bar is pivotall mountedintermediate its ends, said cams being on opposite sides of the barpivot.

12. The combination of claim ll wherein said bar includes oppositelydisposed parallel arms having a transverse connecting portion. saidconnecting portion forming the pivot of said bar.

13. The combination of claim 12 wherein said arms have lateralprojections on each side, said cams being pivoted upon said bar and restupon such projection.

14. The combination of claim 8 wherein said operating means comprises aslide connected to said actuating means and slidable transverselythrough apertures in opposite sides of said housing, said slide havingsealing flanges for closing said apertures and constituting stop meansat each end of the travel of said slide.

15. The-combination of claim 8 wherein said operating means includes apair of slides extending transversely through said housing, a leversliding ly engaging said slides for causing simultaneous and oppositereciprocation thereof, said actuating means slidingly engaging one ofsaid slides for actuation by either of said slides, guides for confiningeach slide to straight line :motion, said lever having a pivot betweensaid slides.

16. The combination fOf' claim 15 wherein said actuating means has aportion resting on one of said slides, one end of said lever resting onsaid actuating means, said lever having its intermediate portion offsetdownwardly between said slides.

17. The combination of claim 16 wherein said slides are provided withsteps to receive the ends of said lever, said one slide receiving saidportion of said actuating means in a notch :in one of said steps.

.18. The combination of claim 8 wherein said operating means comprises aslide connected to said actuating means and slid-able transverselythrough apertures in opposite sides of said housing, said slide havingsealing flanges for closing said apertures and constituting stop meansat each end of the. travel of said slide, said sealing flanges includingspaced flanges alternately engaging vopposite sides of the housing ateach aperture, said-slide having n end flange, abolt mounted in guideways on the exterior of said housing, said bolt being movable acrosssaid slide between said end flange and an adjacent sealing flange toprevent complete movement of said slide inwardly Of-Said housing.

1.9. The combination of claim 18 wherein said end flange is providedwith a recess. there beinga lateral projection on said bolt, saidprojection being receivable in said recess.

20. A threshold comprising a'housing receivable in a door frame, .asealing strip receivable in said housing and slidablyextensibletherefrom into sealing, engagement with a door, oscillatoryactuating means in said housingengaging the underside of the sealingstrip .for elevating the same, operating means. housed with-in andextending externally of said housing and movable transversely of saidsealing strip for controlling said actuating meanasaid' housingincluding a ho low body, a channel member in the top surface of saidbody slidably receiving said sealing strip, a plu rality of supports insaid :body, each of said supports having a :recess for receiving saidchannel member, one ofwsaid supports having a notch upon its lowersurface, said actuating means including an oscillating bar extendingthrough said notch, said bar having a pivot'pin; said one support overlyn d bar and pivot pin and retaining the bar on said pin while permittingoscillation of said bar in said notch.

CHARLES" R. HUNTER.

: file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 7 Name Date 350,102 .Be'a'ms Oct 5, 1886615,189 Kroencke Nov. 29, 1898 704,395 Sowden July 8, 1-902

